Universal joint



July 21 1925. 1,546,755

D. J.. vs cHLJLTE UNIVERSAL JOINT File h 9. 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 211925. 1,546,755

D. J. SCHUL-re UNIVERSAL JINT Filed March s. 1922 2 'sneets-sheet 2lreuiawm Patented duly 2l, i925.

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To @ZZ who/ml t may concern:

.lle it known that l, lDavrn il. SCHUHE, a citizen of the United States.residing at Latrobe, in the county of llfestmoreland and State ofPennsylvaniaa have invented a new and useful Universal Joint, of whichthe following is a specification.

YThis invention aims to provide a simple uni versal joint consisting ofbut few parts and avoiding the complications usually met with in theconstruction of a universal joint.

lit is within the province of the disclosure to iniprove generally andto enhance the utility of devices of that typcto which the inventionappertains.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription pro ceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed7 it being understood that. vvithin the scope ofWhat is claimed, changes in the precise embodiment of the inventionshown can be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention. 1

1n the accompanying dra\vings:-

li`igure 1 shows in side elevation, a device `constructed in accordancewith the invention; Figure 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Figure 1;Figure 3 is a section on the line SW3 of Figure 1; Figure 4- is asection shovving a modification; Figure 5 is an end elevation of thestructure shown in Figure 4; and Figure 6 is an end elevation showing amodification. o

is shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, there is provided a pair of main members1, each of which is provided with a bore 2, adapted to receive a shaft3, the shaft being secured in the main meml'ie'rs as shovvn at 4. Theinner surface et each main member 1 is provided with radial recesses 5defining radial ribs G having transversely inclined surfaces connectedby a flat surface 8, the

'Fiat surface S being disposed at right angles to the axis of themember 1. Notches 9 are formed in the edges of the members 1 and 2. Anintermediate member 10 is disposed between the main members 1, and isprovided on its opposite surfaces with ribs 11, constructed as set forthin connection With the description of the ribs 6 of the main members 1,the ribs 11 of the intermediate member 10 being disposed opposite to therecessesofthe members 1. Disposed between each of the main members 1 andthe intermediate member 10 are flexible disk con nections 12 which maybemade of canvas or any other suitable material. The ilexirble dishconnections 19 rest against the 'dat surfaces 8 of the ribs of themembers 1 and 10, and are connected thereto by securing elements 111,the notchesQ giving access to those securing elements 1a whereby thedislr connections 12 are secured to the intermediate member 10.

`ln practical operation, when the shafts 8 are alined. the dislrconnections 12 are not 2d. but remain straight, as indicated in F1guresi` and 2. lWhen, however, the shafts 3 are disposed at an angle toeach other, the ribs 11 of the intermediate member 10 are received to agreater or less extent in the recesses 5 of the members 1, the ribs 6yof the members 1 being received in the reccsses of the intermediatemember.

The device lis simple in construction and avoids the multiplicity ofrelatively7 movable parts which are commonly niet With in universaljoints.

ils shown in Figures l and 5, each member 15 is in the form of a barincluding an intermediate hub 16, shafts 17 being secured in the hub 1Gas indicated at 18, one main member 15 preferably beingl disposed atright angles to the other main member 15. rllhe main member 15 includeslateral arms comprising intermediate portions 19 which slope in thedirection of the axis of the main member and terminate in end portions26 disposed at right angles to the axis of the main member. rlheintermediate member is in the form of a cross, and is denoted bythenumeral 20, the arms of tie cross heilig marlred by the referencenumerals 21 and 22, the arms ot the intern'iediate member sloping in thedirection of the aXis of the intermediate member and terminating in endportions `which are located approximately at right angles to the axis ofthe intermeA diate member. Flerible disl; connections 23 constructed ashereiniiefore, described, are located between the main members 15 and'he intermediate members 19 and are connected to the ends 26 of the mainmembers. and to the ends of the` arms 22 and et the intermediate member2O by securing devices 24.

The operation of the device delineated in Figures a and 5 do not differmaterially from ill) the operation of the structure shown in Figures l,2 and 3.

In Figure 6, the main member is shown at 277 the liexible diskconnection at 2S7 the securing means at 29, the notches in the mainmember at 30, the shaft at 3l and the securing means for the shaft at32. Comparing Figure 6 with Figure 3, it will be obvious that the numberof securing` elements Whereby the disk connections 28 are held in place,may be increased or diminished at Will.

Thatis claimed is l. In a universal coupling, main members and anauxiliary member between the main members, the inner surface of eachmain member and both surfaces 0i the auxiliary member being providedwith radial ribs having transversely inclined surfaces, the ribs et' themain members alternutine' with the ribs ot the auxiliary membercircumferentially of the oint, and flexible disks connected to the ribsof the main and auxiliary members an@ located between the main membersand the auxiliary membery the disks benormally lat, but being adapted totier.. to permit the rib of one member to be received between the ribsof an adjoining` member, the main and auxiliary members cooperating toiorm a coupling' which cylindrical in iorm.

2. A device of the class described constructed as set forth in claim l,and urther characterized by the 'fact that the ribs have flat surfacesagainst which the disk connections abut, and securing` elements uniting`the disks ivith the ribs, the main members having superficial notcheswhich giv access to those securingl elements which unite the diskconnections with the auxiliary member.

ln testimony that l claim the 'foregoing as my own, l have heretoaffixed my signature in the presence of tivo Witnesses.

DAVD J. SCHULT'E.

lVitnesses:

G. M. FINCIK, H. E. DUKE.

